Standing in samabhanga on a double lotus base with his hands radiating around him, the primary hands holding a kendi and lotus stem and the secondary hands raised near the shoulder. Dressed in a diaphanous dhoti secured around the waist with a sash knotted to one side and falling in pleats, the slender figure adorned with ornate jewelry. The serene face with heavy-lidded eyes below arched brows centered by a small urna, the full lips forming a subtle smile. The hair in wavy locks pulled into a high chignon centered by a diminutive Amitabha Buddha.

Provenance: From the private collection of Darwin Freeman, collected between the 1968-1971, and thence by descent within the same family. Born 1946 in Idaho, USA, Darwin Freeman was a member of the armed forces and later became an avid collector. He met his wife in the mid-1960s, and the pair later relocated to her hometown of Innsbruck, Austria. In 1967, Freeman was drafted into the U.S. Army and served in Germany and Thailand. While he was stationed at the Embassy in Bangkok, between 1969 and 1971, he actively began engaging in the exploration and collection of ancient bronzes and other works of art. Upon completing his duty, Freeman arranged for his collection to be shipped to Austria, where it remained in storage until this day.
Condition: Very good condition, commensurate with age. Extensive old wear, small losses, casting flaws, signs of weathering and erosion, small nicks, light scratches. Fine, naturally grown patina with extensive malachite encrustation.

Weight: 329 g
Dimensions: Height 16.5 cm

Expert’s note: The bodhisattva's slightly flexed pose and delicately modeled torso contrast more common hieratic poses found in the Srivijaya period. The long stem of the lotus that trails down the right side to his ankle is balanced by a thick knot and pleated end falling from his left hip.

Literature comparison:
For another Avalokiteshvara see Diskul, The Art of Shrivijaya, 1980, pl. 25. Also see Van Beek, The Arts of Thailand, 1985, ill. p. 24. Compare with an earlier two-armed Maitreya in Chutiwongs & Leidy, Buddha of the Future, Singapore, 1994, no. 47, p. 81. Also compare with a mid 10th-century Lokanatha and Siva Mahadeva dated in the Songkhla National Museum published in Krairiksh, The Roots of Thai Art, Bangkok, 2012, pp. 177 & 248.

Auction result comparison:
Type: Near identical
Auction: Bonhams New York, 17 September 2014, lot 172
Price: USD 10,000 or approx. EUR 12,000 converted and adjusted for inflation at the time of writing
Description: A copper alloy figure of Avalokiteshvara or Maitreya, South Thailand, 8th/9th century
Expert remark: Compare the closely related modeling with similar pose, dangling lotus stem, and knotted sash. The figure is the same size (16.5 cm) as the present lot and also shows a similar patina.